Design and development of a novel wireless EKG system utilizing the low-power Zigbee standard

Electrocardiography has been in clinical use for the diagnosis and monitoring of heart abnormalities for more than a century. It remains the best and least invasive method for the task it performs. EKG measurement systems have followed trends in technological advancement becoming more reliable, able to perform a wider range of functions and simpler to use as time has progressed. The next step forward for the technological advancement of electrocardiography is a completely wireless system of measurement. Such a system would facilitate the tasks of doctors eliminating the usage of wires in operation theaters, as well as for senior people that need to wear monitoring devices for a continuous tracking of their heart condition. Another need for such a system would arise in war scenarios where the remote monitoring of the heart rate of every soldier would tremendously enhance rescue chances. A low form factor is very important as it can further increase the use of such a device in pediatrics. The electrical impulses within the heart act as a source of voltage, which generates a current flow in the torso and corresponding potentials on the skin. An accurate indication of the frontal projection of the cardiac vector can be provided by three leads/electrodes, one connected at each of the three vertices of the Einthoven triangle, shown in Fig.l. The most basic EKG leads are the 3 standard limb leads, which are bipolar leads which measure the potential difference between the right arm, left arm, and left leg. In this paper we focus on the Standard Limb leads and not the pre-cordial lead configuration.